A client is getting ready to go home from an intermediate care facilit

A client is getting ready to go home from an intermediate care facility following surgery and a lengthy recovery period. Which item will the home health nurse focus on in order to determine effectiveness of the discharge teaching plan?

1. Activity restrictions
2. Follow-up appointment dates
3. Return demonstration of dressing change
4. Signs of complications

ANSWER

Correct Answer: 3
Rationale: Clients need teaching before discharge that includes information about medications, dietary and activity restrictions, signs of complications that need to be reported to the physician, follow-up appointments, and where supplies can be obtained. Clients, and perhaps caregivers, also need to demonstrate safe performance of any necessary treatments. Clients need help to understand their situation, to make health care decisions, and to learn new health behaviors. All the options would be important for the client to retain, but to determine whether the task of changing the dressing was learned, the client would have to demonstrate the skill back to the nurse.